Fence-post



(No Model.)

A. J, NELLIS.

PPPPPPPPP T.

No'. 370,800. Patented 001;. 4, 1887...

22j#- QL/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. AARON J. NELLIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-Pos1'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 370,809, dated October 4, 1887.

Application filed April l1, 1885. Serial No. 161,922. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON J. NELLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitts'- burg, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Fence 'Posts;

' and I hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis an elevation of the posts complete and embodying all the features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the base or ground-point. Fig. 3 is a section thereof on the line xx. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the socket. Fig. 5 is av detached view of the post-section A. Fig. 6 is a section of the same on the line y y. Fig. 7 is a view of the post-section before it is bent 0r curved longitudinally; and Fig. 8 is a section on the line e e, Fig. 7.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

I will now proceed to describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates the post-section, which may be of open-hearth steel, caststeel, or Bessemer steel sufficiently high in carbon to obtain the requisite stiffness, and is preferably produced by first rolling a bar of sufcient width and beveled edges. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) I have found that two and threefourths (21%) inches wide No. 11 gage center (about one eighth inch) tapering to No. 17 gage (onesixteenth inch) at the edges by four and one-half (4%) feet in length make a good post; but I give these proportions simply as a matter of illustration and not for limitation, as I intend to vary them Widely to meet the various demands of the trade. A beveled bar of the general character specilied is then slotted on its opposite edges by reversely-curved slots b, the bottoms of the slots terminating a short distance on either side of a transverse line, b b', s'o that the fence-wire when passed from slot to slot (in the finished post) will cramp or bind. This bar so slotted is then subjected to the action of suitable dies, which curve it so as to form a trough or semi-cylin der on a circle of substantially an inch and a half diameter, and its lower end is bent to a tubular form, as at a2, to adapt it to be driven into the socket of the base or ground-point. This done, there will be provided a post-section, A, of semicircular transverse section having beveled edges provided with curved reverse slots, in which the greatest strength and symmetry are obtained with the least metal.

C indicates the base or ground-point section, which is of cast-iron (being the most durable metal that can v be used for the purpose) of general bayonet form, with a double taper toward the socket as well as toward the point. The flanges c of the point are extended up on the socket d, so as to strengthen the same, which socket is also further strengthened by a bead, e, from which projects a spur, f. The bead e and spur f serve as a purchase for a pinch bar when it is desired to draw the gr0und-point in changing the fence-line. The hole or bore of the socket is extended through the casting, as shown at g, and is of taper form, so as to pinch upon orgrasp the cylindrical end a2 of the post-section A.

In putting the postsection A and the groundsection C together the cylindrical end c2 is driven into thesoeket d uutilit projects through the same at the point g, ,when the end of the tube a2 is spread, so as to cause it to clinch the lower edge of the socket. The spring or tension of the tubular end a2 and the bite of the clinched end on the socket will insure a firm and simple lock or union between the parts.

The advantages of my invention are that a strong and symmetrical metallic post is obtained with a great saving of material and labor.

I do not herein claim alongitudinally bent, corrugated, or langed metal post having reversely extending wire slots on opposite anges, as I am aware that the same has heretofore been devised; but,

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with a fence-post groundpoint having a tubular, tapering, openended In testimony whereof I ax mysgnatnre, in

socket, of a wrought-metal fence-post Whose presenceof two witnesses,this 8th day of April, cross-section is the are of a circle and whose 1885.

socket end is of open tubular form, the parts AARON J. NELLS. 5 being united by clnching or upsetting the end Witnesses:

0f the post, substantially as and for the pnl. v F. WV. RITTER, Jr.,

poses specified. H. A. HALL.' 

